Townsend teen charged in Newark mugging

An 18-year-old teenager from Townsend is facing criminal charges for his alleged involvement in the mugging of a Newark teen last month.

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By Scott Goss

Middletown Transcript

By Scott Goss

Posted Mar. 18, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Updated Mar 18, 2013 at 3:34 PM

By Scott Goss

Posted Mar. 18, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Updated Mar 18, 2013 at 3:34 PM

Newark, Del.

An 18-year-old teenager from Townsend is facing criminal charges for his alleged involvement in the mugging of a Newark teen last month.

Tyrone J. Nickens Jr. turned himself in to police on Thursday after learning a warrant had been issued charging him with robbery and conspiracy.

According to Newark Police Department spokesman Cpl. Gerald Bryda, Nickens and two other males engaged the 19-year-old victim in conversation on South Chapel Street near Scholar Drive about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 15.

One of the three men allegedly struck the victim from behind, knocking him to the ground. The trio then took the victim’s wallet and fled the area.

That night and the following morning, the victim’s credit cards were used at several locations in Maryland, including Elkton, Havre de Grace and Baltimore, Bryda said.

Using video surveillance taken at those locations, detectives were able to identify Brandon Gatewood, an 18-year-old Elkton resident, as one of the suspects in the mugging.

Police later identified Nickens as one of the other two suspects, Bryda said.

Nickens is being held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution on a $63,000 secured bond.

Police are continuing their investigation into the identity of the third suspect.

Gatewood, who turned himself in to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office on March 3, also is charged in connection with a similar mugging that took place in Newark on Feb. 18 in which a 24-year-old Newark man was beaten and robbed. Three other Maryland residents also are facing charges in connection with that incident.